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States with Populations Most & Least Vulnerable to COVID-19
Grace Halsey
States with high concentrations of vulnerable populations, eg, older, sicker, but also poorer with basic needs unmet, face challenges as the COVID-19 lock-down lifts.
Populations most vulnerable to COVID-19 and serious illness include the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions but other groups also are at high risk, such as those who lack adequate living conditions and access to nutrition and healthcare.
Wallethub identified the states with the highest and lowest concentrations of these vulnerable groups, from share of adults aged ≥65 years to shares of the state population that face food insecurity and homelessness. The slides that follow highlight results.
The state with the highest share of adults aged 65 years and older is Florida - followed by Maine and West Virginia.
Utah is the state with the lowest share of population aged 65 years or older and is followed by Alaska and the District of Columbia.
The state with the highest proprotion of its population with COPD is West Virginia, followed by Kentucky and Tennessee.
The lowest share of population with COPD is found in Hawaii; next lowest is found in Minnesota, followed by South Dakota.
The highest population of homeless individuals without shelter is in California, followed by Oregon, and Hawaii.
The state with the lowest share of homeless individuals who do not have shelter is North Dakota. ND is followed by New York, Massachusetts, Maine, and Nebraska for the 5 US states with the lowest share of unsheletered homeless.
Alaska has the highest share of homes lacking access to basic hygienic facilities. Hawaii comes in second and New Mexico third.
The lowest share of homes without access to basic hygienic facilities in the state is found in Delaware, followed by the District of Columbia and Maryland.
The highest share of households in poverty that do not receive food stamps is in the state of Wyoming; ND, California, Utah, and Colorado follow, making up the top five in the category.
The lowest share of empoverished households not receiving food stamps is in Rhode Island, followed by Maine, West Virginia, Oregon, and Ohio.
The lowest rate of unemployment recipiency is among residents of North Carolina, followed by Florida, South Dakota, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
The highest rate of unemployment insurance receipt is in New Jersey; ranked behind NJ are Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and Rhode Island.